Sheet feeding apparatus



g- 8, 1939- v i P. CERN'A'K 2,168,559

' SHEET FEED-18G nnmmus Filed ,April 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTdR PAUL CERNAK ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1939. P. CERNAK ,168, 9

' SHEET FEED INC} APPARATUS Filed. April 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 78 we BY PAUL. CERNAK I M 79 :7 103.4 z M M7 no ATTORNEY- Patented Aug. 8, 1939 SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Paul Cernak, Montvale, .N. J., asslgnor to Dexter Folder Company, New York,N. Y., acorporation of New York Application April 27, 1938, Serial No. 204.521

14 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet feeders and while capable of general use is more particularly adapted for embodiment in feeders for feeding I sheets of tin, .black iron, aluminum'and the like to printing presses, punch presses; coating and varnishing machines, and various other instrumentalities employed in the processing or making of metal articles or containers. 7

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved feederwhich through the pro- 4 vision of novel, simple and inexpensive means can be stopped and started without disturbing the proper timed relation of the sheet feedin parts. Another object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved feeder having novel means for automatically controlling the starting and stopping'of the sheet feeding operation so that proper timed relation is always maintained between the feeder and the machine or other instrumentality with which it is associated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide animproved feeder having novel means for preventing stopping of the sheet feeding oper- 25 ation until the completion of feed of any sheet in process of being fed from the sheet supply on said feeder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved feeder having novel means for locking the sheet feeding elements when feeding of sheets thereby is interrupted.

These and other objects of the present'invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds and in order to more clearly un- J derstand said invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings: I Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a feeder embodying the present invention and particularly'adapted for feeding metal sheets; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the feeder shown in Fig. 1;

4;, section, of the feeder starting and stopping device and control means therefor shown in Figs.- 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, 11-

lustrating the position of the feeder starting and stopping device and the sheet forwarding devices when the feeder is stopped. 1

Referring to the drawings, wherein-like reference-characters designate/like parts throughout Fig. 3 is an' enlarged top plan view, partly in (01. z'u-ssi' thereof maybe mounted on-a frame of any suitable construction and the movable parts employed during normal operation of the-feeder may be actuated or driven by any suitable means. As hereinafter shown, said frame and driving 5 means are preferably constructed as follows.

The feeder frame is comprised by front uprights 5 and rear uprights 6 connected together 4 by side members 'I and 8 (Figs. 1 and 2). The

uprights 5 and 6 are bolted or otherwise suitably 10 secured to the machine foundation, thefront uprights .5 being connected together by cross members 9 bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto, and the rear uprights 6 being connected. together at the tops thereof by a stay shaft ".15 The cross members 9 have bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto a metal apron or plate I I against which the front side of a supply or pile of metal or other sheets l2 bears during elevation of the same by mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l, the

drive for the feeder is preferably comprisedby an inclined driven jack shaft I3 which, in'turn, is driven from any suitable source of power (not shown). The upper end of this jack shaft I3 is journalled in a suitable bearing provided by a bracket II that is bolted or otherwise suitably secured on one of the front uprightsi, i

Fixed on the upper end of jack shaft I3 is a bevel gear l5 which meshes with a similar gear l6 fixed on a short shaft l'l journalled in suitable bearings in the bracket H and the adjacent front upright 5. ,Fixed on the short shaft 11 is a spur pinion l8 which meshes with a s'purvgear I! that as is fixedv on a cam shaft 20. This cam shaft 20 is journalled in suitable bearings in the front uprights 5 and is .utilized to operate various parts of the feeder to be hereinafter described. The feeder includes a pile elevator and operating 0 mechanism therefor preferably. constructed as.

follows. 1

The short shaft II has fixed thereon a crank disk 2| pivotally connected with one end of a link 22 the opposite end of which is pivotally connect- 5 ed with a pawl carrier 23 that is loosely mounted on a shaft 24 (Fig. 1). This shaft 24 extends transversely of the feeder and is journalled'in'. suitable bearings in brackets 25 (Figs. 1 and 2) that are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the front uprights 5 at the upper ends thereof. Shaft 2| is operated at suitable intervals to raise the pile elevator hereinafter described and said operation of said shaft is preferably effected by pawl and ratchet mechanism of the general typ It I disclosed in the application Serial No. 33,002 of Leonard Baker flied July 25, 1935.

This pawl and ratchet mechanism includes the pawl carrier and a pawl 20 pivoted thereon and adapted, under certain conditions, to engage a ratchet 21 fixed on the shaft 24. It will thus appear that through oscillation of the pawl carrier. by the described driving connections thereforwith Jack shaft It and through engagement of the oscillating pawl II with the ratchet 21, the shaft 24 will be intermittently rotated. Under theseconditions right and left hand worms II and 20 fixed on shaft 24 will likewise be rotated. Thme worms 2. and 29 mesh with right and left handworm gears 89 and II fixed on shafts II that are Journalled in suitable bearings 'in the brackets" and in brackets 33. which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the rear Fixedonshaftsll aretoothedsheavesslinthe' teeth of which are engaged links of chains 3| -sothatwhentheshaftsflarerotatedinthe proper direction by the described driving means .therefor,saidchainswillberaisedandthusraise .an elevator-comprising cross beams 30 ,to which the lower ends of said chains ll are secured in are raised intermittently as the sheets are fed off the top of the pile by sheet separating and forwarding devicu hereinafter described. and to keep the top of said pile at a predetermined level for the operation of said devices the elevator and its operating mechanism are preferably controlled "GeorgeA. Martin,'and

uprights I thereof are by pneumatic means including a mask 38 and a mask detent 39 (Fig. 1) preferably mounted, constructed and operated as disclosed in the application Serial No. 116,892 of Leonard Baker, her 1, I. d Leo c. Williams. filed Decem. I an needing no detail descri tion herein. p- The feeder embodies means for supplying comair to pile and sheet winding devices, and means for creating vacuum in thesheet separating: andforwarding devices, and said means are preferablymounted, constructed and-operated as follows: Extending across the feeder frame and secured in any suitable manner to the front cross shafts ll (Figs. shafts. ll have bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto brackets II which, in turn, have bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto an electric motor". Fixed on the armatureshaft ll of motor is a sprocket 44 around which passes around a sprocket I that is fixed shaft "of a pump 48 suitably constructed to supply air under pressure from one part thereof and to create vacuum in another part thereof.

This air andvacuum pump as is bolted or, otherwise suitably secured above, and to one side of, the motor 42 on brackets "I which, in turn, are bolted or otherwise suitably secured on one of the cross shafts 49 and a third cross shaft I onthe located thereabove and secured in -any suitable manner on the front uprights I. Connected with theexhaust orairp sideorpartofpump I is one end of a conduit II the opposite end of which is connected with a compressed air tank I; secured in any suitable manner-on the feeder frame above and to one side of the motor 42.

passes a chain-ll that also The compressed air tank If has connected therewith one end of a conduit 53 the opposite end of which is connected with one part it of a. tubular shaft indicated broadly at It. This tubular shaft "is divided centrally in any suitable manner and the other part of said shaft is indicated at Part 54- provides an air supply conduitand part it provides a vacuum conduit and both of theseparts are connected with conduits 51 and II (Rig. 3) respectively, formed inthe housing It of a valve mechanism it supported on the feeder in any suitable manner and through c which the cam shaft extends. The construction and operation of this valve mechanism is the same as that of the valve mechanism disclosed in application Serial No. 116,692 above referred to and needs no further detail description herein. The vacuum part or conduit I of tubular shaft 55 has connected therewith one end of a conduit II the opposite end of which is connected with the vacuum side: or part of pump 4|. The

valve mechanism It, through the described con nections therefor with the pump ll, controls the delivery of air under pressure to pile and sheet 'winding devices, and the making and breaking of vacuum in sheet separating and forwarding deto various'pofltions. The cross member 85 has mounted thereon, at opposite sides thereof, pile and sheet winding devices indicated at and- 81 respectively, and vacuum sheet separating devices comprised by cylinders 89 and suction cups Q0 that are raised and lowered through the makingand breaking of vacuum in said cylinders. These sheet separating devices are constructed and operated in the same manner as the sheet sepa rating devices disclosed. in application Serial No. 116,692 and need no detail description herein. It might be pointed out, however, that the cyl- I inders 69 are connected by flexible hose II with a conduit H (Fig. 3) formed in the valve housing- N and that the making and breaking of vacuum in the sheet separating devices at predetermined intervals is effected by the rotary valve 12 connected with the driving disk 13 that is fixed on' thecam shaft 20. The rotary valve 12, during rotation of the same, connects and disconnects the conduit II with the conduit 58 which, as previously pointed out, is connected by the described connections with the vacuum side of pump 49. Also,-the pile and sheet winding devices Cl, '1 are connected by flexible-hose I4 and II with conduits l6 and 11 (Fig. 3) respectively, formed in the valve housing I9, and delivery of compressed air to shid pile and sheet winding devices at proper predetermined intervals is eiiected by the rotary valve 18 connected with the driving disk 1e that is fixed on the 4 valve 1s, during rotation of the same, connects and disconnects the conduits 16,." with the conduit 51 which, as previously pointed out, is connected by the described connections with the compressed air tank 52. r

The sheet forwarding de ces are comprised by cylinders, 80' and suction cups 8| that are raised up and down relative to the cylinders through the making and breaking of vacuum therein. These sheet forwarding devices are also constructed and operated in the same manner as the sheet forwarding devices disclosed in application Serial.

shaft 20. The rotary No. 116,692 and need no detail description herein. completion of feed of a sheet in process of de- It is pointed out, however, that the sheet forwarding devices have swinging movement to advance the sheets that have been separated from the pile I2 by the sheet separating devices, and for this purpose cylinders 80 are secured on arms 82 which, in turn, are fixed on a rock shaft 83 that extends transversely of the feeder frame and is journalled in suitable bearings in the brackets 62. The sheet forwarding devices are rocked rearwardly by a spring 84 having one end connected with an arm 85 (Fig. 2) fixed on rock shaft 03, the

opposite end of said spring being connected with the side member 8 in anysuitable manner. The sheet forwarding devices are rocked forwardly by a cam 86 fixed on and rotated by cam shaft 20.

This cam 86 engages a cam roller 81 journalled on a cam strap 88 extending over cam shaft 20 and connected with the arm 85.

The making and breaking of vacuum in the cylinders 80 is also effected by the valve 12 at proper intervals, and for'this purpose the cylinders 80 are connected by flexible hose 89 with a conduit 90 (Fig. 3) formed in the valve housing 59 and which, through rotation of the valve 12, is connected and disconnected with the conduit 58.

It might be pointed out, however, that the operation of the valve." is so timed that vacuum is established in'the (Wlinders 80 to move the suction cups 8| into engagement with the top sheet of the pile when the sheet forwarding devices have been swung rearwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and is maintained therein ing transversely of the feeder and journalled in suitable bearings on the front uprights 5. The shaft 93, the feed rollers 9| fixed thereon, and conveyor tapes 94 passing around said rollers are driven by suitable gearing including'a gear 95 fixed on said shaft, and a gear 96 which meshes with the gear 95 and is fixed on and rotated by the short shaft I1. The front portions of tapes 94 pass around other rollers (not shown) and said tapes travel over a roller 91 that extends transversely of the feeder and is journalled in suitable bearings in side plates 98 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the front uprights 5.

The drop rollers 92 are journalled on arms 99 fixed on a rock shaft I00 which extends trans-' versely of the feeder and is journalled in suitable bearings in the side plates 98. The drop rollers 92 are raised and lowered by a cam IOI secured to or formed integrally with the valve driving disk 19, and which engages a roller I02 journalled on an arrni03 that is fixed on the rock shaft I00.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided for temporarily interrupting the feed of sheets from the top of the pile whenever this is necessary or desirable, without having to discon nect thefeeder from its-sourbe of power; without having to provide the usual and generally expen sive clutch mechanism therebetween; without disturbing the timing between the feeder and the machine being fed thereby; and without failure of livery from thefeeder when the sheet feeding operation is interrupted. As herein shown said means is preferably constructed and operated as follows.

The valve housing 59 is provided at opposite sides thereof with ports I04,- I05 (Fig. 3) communicating with the conduits 51 and 58 respectively and opening outwardly through said sides of said housing. Normally, these ports I04, I05

are closed by small disc valves I06 and I01 (Figs.

'2 and 3) mounted on arms I 00 and I09 disposed at opposite sides of the valve housing 59 and fixed on a rock shaft IIO. This rock shaft IIOextends transversely of the machine and is journalled in suitable bearings in brackets III (Fig. 1) bolted or otherwise suitably secured on the front uprights 5 and in a lug II2 formed on the valve housing 59. The rock shaft IIO has fixed on the ends thereof handles H3 and by turning either of these handles in one direction the shaft I I0, arms I08,'I09, anddisc valves I06, I01 may be swung to uncover the ports I04, I05 th'us opening the conduits 51, 58 to atmosphere and preventing the operation of the sheet separating devices, the sheet forwarding devices and the pile and sheetwinding devices. Obviously when the rock shaft II0v is swung in the opposite direction by either of the handles H3, the disc valves I06, I01 will cover the ports I04, I05 so that the sheet separating, forwarding and winding devices may be operated as above described.

Keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the rock shaft 63 is an arm II4 (Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive) having pivotally connected therewith as at II5 one. end of a latch bar II6. Latch bar I I6 is guided for reciprocating movement on a stud I I1 which is threaded into the side of the valve housing '59cand extends through a slot II 8 formed in said latch bar. The opposite end of latch bar H6 is formed with a nose II9 which, during normal operation of the feeder and for a major portion of each cyclethereof, projects over and into the path of movement of the arm I08 on the rock shaft I I0, as illustrated in Figs; 2 and 3, and thereby prevents actuation of the shaft H0, arms I08, I09 and disc valves I06, I01 to interrupt the feeding of sheets from the top of the pile. However, when the sheet forwarding devices are swung to their extreme forward position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, through engagement of the roller 81 with the highest point on the cam 86, to deliver the sheet engaged thereby in proper position between the feed and drop rollers 9| and 92, the

arm II4 and latch bar II6 are moved in the opposite direction to retract the nose I19 "out of the path of the arm I08 at which time the shaft IIO, arms I08, I09 and 'disc valves I06, I01 may be actuated to interrupt the feeding of sheets from the top of the pile. It will thus appear that the feeding of sheets from the top of the pile cannot be interrupted while a sheet is engaged by the sheet forwardingv devices and before it is delivered in proper position thereby on the'conveyor.

When the arms I08, I09 and disc valves I06, I01 thereon are actuated to interrupt-the feeding of sheets from the top of the pile, the 'nose I I9 of latch bar I I6 engages a notch I20 (Figs. 2 and 4) formed in the arm I09 and terminating in a shoulder I2I. Engagement of the nose 'I I9 with the notch I20 and shoulder I2I prevents rearward scribed.

bar 6 and thus disengage the nose II! from the .notch I and shoulder III on the arm I", at which time the ports I, III! are again covered and the sheet forwarding devices move rearward ly at the proper time under the action of the spring 84 upon continued rotation of cam It and into proper position to act on the next sheet of the pile. It will thus'appear that through the previously described control for the arms I08, I09 and disc valves I, III thereon, actuation of said arms and valves to start or stop the feeding of sheets is only possible at the same predetermined pointin each operating cycle of the feeder thus always maintaining the proper timed relation between said feeder and the machine with which it is associated.

" The operation of afeeder constructed in accordance with the present vention will be clearly understood from the fo going description and whie said description and the accompanying drawings set forth with more or less particularity one embodiment of the invention, it is to be expressly understood that said invention is not limited to said embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. t

' What I claim is:

1. In a sheet feeder, suction sheet feeding means, mechanism for imparting motion thereto including a driven element and driving connections therefor with the suction sheet feeding means enabling motion thereof to be discontinued whiledriving of said element continues, and

means for discontinuing the sheet feeding action of the sheet feeding means while driving of said element continues comprising a valve for opening the sheet feeding means to atmosphere and means for preventing opening operation of said valveunless said sheet feeding means'has been moved to a predetermined position by said mechanism.

2. In a sheet feeder, the combination with a sheet conveyor and a suction device for forward- 'ing sheets to said conveyor, of mechanism for reciprocating the suction sheet forwarding device including a driven element and connectio therefor with the suction sheet forwarding evice enabling sheet forwarding action thereof to be discontinued while driving of said element continues, and means for discontinuing the sheet forwarding action of the suction sheet forwarding device while driving of said elementcontinues comprising a valve for opening the suction sheet forwarding device to atmosphere and means for preventing opening operation of said valve unless said mechanism has moved said suction sheet forwarding device to itssheet delivery position with respect to said conveyor.

3. In a sheet feeder, suction-sheet feeding means, mechanism for imparting motion thereto including a driven element and connections therefor with the suction. sheet feeding means enabling sheet feeding action thereof to be discontinued while driving of said element continlies, a valve for opening the sheet feeding means to atmosphere when said sheet feeding means is moved by said mechanism to a predetermined position, and means for preventing movement of the sheet feeding means when said valve is opened and whiledri'ving of said element continues.

4. In a sheet feeder, suction sheet feeding means, mechanism for imparting motion thereto including a driven element and connections therefor with the suction sheet feeding means enabling sheet feeding action thereof to be discontinued while driving of said element continues, and means for discontinuing the sheet feeding action of the sheet feeding means when the latter is in a predetermined position comprising valve means and holding means intermittently engaged during feeding action of the feeder and operable when disengaged to open the sheet feeding means to atmosphere and to hold said sheet feeding means against movement while driving of said element continues. I v

5. In a sheet feeder, suction sheet forwarding means, mechanism for imparting motion thereto including a driven element and connections therefor with the suction sheet forwarding means enabling sheet forwarding action, thereof to be discontinued while driving of said element continues, and means for discontinuing the sheet forwarding action of the sheet-forwarding means when the latter is in sheet delivery position comprising valve means and forwarder actuated holding means intermittently engaged during normal operation of the feeder and operable when disengaged to open the suction sheet forwarding means to atmosphere and to holdsaid sheet forwarding means against movement in said position while driving of said element continues. v v

6. In a sheet feeder, suction sheet feeding means, mechanism for reciprocating the same, advancing and retracting means connected with the suction sheet feeding means and retracted when the latter is advanced, and means operable when the advancing and retracting means is retracted for stopping the sheet feeding means in advanced position and opening said sheet feeding means to atmosphere.

'1. In a sheet feeder, a sheet feeding device, mechanism for reciprocating the same, means for preventing reciprocation of the sheet feeding device, and means for preventing operation of said.

first named means unless said sheet feeding de-' vice is in a predetermined position.

8. In a sheet feeder, a sheet feeding device,

mechanism for imparting motion thereto, a device 4 connected with the sheet feeding device and movable to stopping and non-stopping positions therefor, and means operable when the second named device is in its stopping position to hold said second named device and said sheet feeding device against movement and thereafter release them for movement by'said mechanism. I

9. In a sheet feeder, a suction sheet feeding device, mechanism for imparting motion thereto, a member connected with the sheet feeding device and movable to stopping and non-stopping positions therefor, and valve means operable when the member is in its stopping position to open the sheet feeding device to atmosphere, hold the member and sheet feeding device against movement, and thereafter release said member and device'for movement thereof by said mechanism.

10.'In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating sheet feeding device, a reciprocating member connected therewith, a rotatable element provided with is moved out of the path of movement of said element for rotating the element, engaging the end of the member in said notch, and stopping the movement of said member and said device;

11. In a sheet feeder, suction sheet feeding means, valve mechanism for automatically making and breaking vacuum in said suction sheet /feeding means at predetermined intervals, manually operated means for opening and closing the valve mechanism to atmosphere to stop and start the sheet feeding action of the suction sheet feeding means, and timed stop means for preventing actuation of said manually operated valve opening and closing means while vacuum is created in the suction sheet feeding means and a sheet 4s being fed thereby.

ally operated means for opening and closing the;

valve mechanism to atmosphere to stop and start the sheet feeding action of the suction sheet feedingl neans, and stop means controlled by the suction sheet feeding means and movable into the path of said manually operated means for preventing actuation thereofwhile vacuum is created in the suction sheet feeding means and a sheet is being fed thereby.

13. In a sheet feeder, a suction sheet forwarding device, mechanism for automatically making and breaking vacuum in said suction sheet formanually operated valve for opening and closing said mechanism to atmosphere to stop and start the sheet feeding action of said suction sheet forsaid manually operated valve for preventing actuation thereof except at a predetermined time in each operating cycle of the feeder.

14. In a sheet feeder, suction sheet feeding means, valve mechanism for automatically making and breaking vacuum in said suction sheet feeding means once in each cycle of operation of said feeder, means for opening and closing'the valve mechanism to atmosphere to stop and start the sheet feeding action of the suction sheet feeding means, and timed stop means for controlling the actuation of said valve opening and closing means. in timed relation with the operation of said valve mechanism.

PAUL CERNAK.

-warding device at predetermined intervals, a

warding device, and stop means automatically movable into and out of the path of movement of 

